CHAPTER 11 - "RETRIEVAL"

The sound of something heavy whistled through the air and landed with explosive impact outside in the back courtyard, raising dirt and debris in every direction. To Leic, it sounded like a cannonball.

He raced to the bay window of his quarters looking across the courtyard - his new quarters were on the main floor.

Indeed it had been a cannonball. And it looked like a small war was brewing outside with men assaulting the mansion, weapons in hands and with heavy artery strategically placed for optimum effect, in some sort of strike upon his brother's home.

But there was also counter-fire. Bullets soared through the air with rapid speed from what sounded like a rotating machine gun and stone blocks were launched upon the attackers from the roof of the mansion with amazing accuracy perturbing the enemy's advancement.

The defenders appeared professional, holding the enemy. Along with the machine gun and stone blocks, he saw a young woman in the field firing upon the attackers with two hand guns, showing amazing prowise. Single-handedly, she was able to take out or kill an attacker with a single shot. And with closer look, he was utterly shocked at who it was. It was the maid Mey-Ryn and she didn't have her wide circular glasses on. This clumsy, inept woman was a secret marksman? Where did his brother hire this woman from? Then could his other servants be the one's on the roof counterattacking this onslaught using their own secret skills - firing the machine gun and throwing the blocks? Baldroy and Finny, were their names.

Ciel Phantomhive had enemies, but to this extreme?

He then realized this assault was for him. These people had come to take him back, just like those two horsemen had attempted when he first came to his brother's mansion. The question was why. Why was he this important to start a small war over? Or perhaps, this had nothing to do with him at all, he reconsidered. Ciel was a resentful bastard. Could this merely be one of his enemies attacking him…

I am also a Phantomhive, he thought. So they are my enemies too!

He looked like Ciel, they were twins, and for some strange feeling despite the "mask" he felt he was wearing, he in fact felt he belonged here, with his family.

Lukas… his inner voice said.

Lukas? Who was Lukas? The name suddenly came to mind and it felt familiar. He had no idea why the name popped into his head, but he felt it was his, his real name. His hidden name, that someone had tried to conceal from him.

The name Leic was a backwards version of Ciel, he figured this out himself with ease. Frankly, he felt Leic was a fake name all along, but he couldn't quite understand why and he had no other name to call himself because of his amnesia.

But things were starting to reassert themselves. Memories were coming back in tiny fragments. They weren't clear, but he began to remember things that he had never recalled before.

This life he lead, the name he was calling himself, just felt wrong. And he wanted to remember who he was so very badly. Something within the last couple of days created an impression of belonging here with his brother and despite Ciel treating him poorly and like some sort of outcast, he felt a kinship with him.

His clutched his head as a surge with pain erupted in his brain. And images, memories began to flood through his thoughts.

A clinical laboratory. His face wrapped in a bandage after some sort of surgery or in preparation for one. And men in white lab coats looking down at him as he was strapped onto a medical bed unable to move.

His father smiled gracefully down at him. The father he said he vaguely remembered telling Ciel about when they argued only hours before. The man with a pudgy face and with white hair, long sideburns and glasses - that he now saw face-to-face in a memory. This was the man who he remembered taking care of him for most of his life, or at least that's how his memories portrayed.

He had read in a recent newspaper article of something that happened years ago, a man who kidnapped children; Tanaka had brought it for him to read. The daily news. The article said that a number of children had been taken years ago and this corresponded with a rash of children kidnappings now.

He wasn't stupid, but his memories were still foggy. If indeed he was a Phantomhive, and all evidence pointed to that very truth, and he had been kidnapped years ago, then he had been one of these children. And this was not his real father, but his captor. And this war was for him, to retrieve him and to take him back so he wouldn't reveal to anyone who this man is behind the kidnappings…

His head hurt just thinking about it. And perhaps that's why it hurt, because truthful memories were finally emerging to the surface of his consciousness. Memories he had forgotten, or that were taken from him. Had his father brainwashed new memories for him or made him believe certain untruths?

That would mean…

"You may begin, doctor," his father said, standing next to a tall man with his head covered with a white cap and his mouth and nose covered with a white mask. This doctor was completely unidentifiable.

His father then looked directly into Lukas's eyes, as Lukas was strapped down to the table. Putting a gentle hand on his forehead, Lukas could do nothing but just stare in horror at this happenstance. "You will be my greatest creation, son. I will make you beautiful, correcting the disease that marks your face. No longer will you be ugly. You will be beautiful, and I will educate you properly. You're a very smart boy, and I'll use you where you'll be best. Soon the new rulers of the British Commonwealth will arise and we must be ready to assist in overthrowing the Queen."

Lukas struggled against the binds that secured him to the table, but to no avail. The doctor then injected him with a syringe into the side of his neck and within seconds Lukas felt the serum work, numbing his nervous system and brain functions, and he quickly became at the mercy of these two men.

"That's a good boy, my sweet son, soon you're find a place among the others, among all my children," his father said. "And together we will make a better world. Someone has wronged me, and now I will wrong him. I promised him to make you well, and I will, but how was never discussed. I'll say you died during the procedure to correct deformities in your face, but you'll be alive and well, and one of my children."

His "father" turned to the doctor once he had finished his speech, and nodded to begin.

Then two young men, teenagers he thought, approached the table to look down at Lukas before the doctor started to unwrap the bandages around Lukas's head and face.

"Sasha, Samuel…cover your mouths, you idiots!" his father scolded them; the doctor ceasing to unwrap the bandages. "I don't want him contaminated before the procedure."

They were twins, dressed in white and had blonde hair. Lukas had never seen them before, but he felt they weren't right - they had evil eyes.

"Looks like a waste of time to me," said one twin, as he put a cloth over his mouth before talking. "You're going to make him into an assassin?"

"But then again, who would believe a little kid could be a killer," the second twin said.

"He will be my son first, an assassin and infiltrator second, do you understand?" his father said firmly. "Once the Inner Circle kills the Phantomhive's, I'll reinsert Lukas as his brother, educate him in propriety, literacy, and commerce - I will cast away his ugliness and make Lukas just as beautiful as his brother Ciel, and have him run their business and family under the tutelage of his unsuspecting butler Tanaka, and make all what the Phantomhive's own mine. And the Inner Circle will do away with the Queen, and a new rule will begin of the British Commonwealth. A strong and selective one. Then when all my children are grown, they will spread across the world building my beautiful empire under the Fantom Co. And only beautiful things will reign; the ugliness of the world will parish. "

"Like you," said Sasha.

Father sneered. "Vincent Phantomhive's Aristocrats of Evil group banished me from their secret association because they considered me too weak and not easy on the eyes."

"You mean ugly," Samuel said.

Father growled angrily. "That will change, as I too will make myself beautiful, just like all my children are, all my sons and daughters - like lovely little flowers."

"I…am…not…your…son…" Lukas muttered sleepily.

"Oh, but you will be," his father brushed a gentle hand across Lukas's exposed cheek, "just like all the rest."

Then darkness took Lukas…

An explosion rocked the bay window of his quarters, throwing him to the ground, knocking him out his reverie. For a few short moments, he blacked out. But then he regained consciousness and found himself buried in wood and glass from the once bay window, where a large hole now was.

His ears were ringing and every sound reverberated with waves of pain. He pushed the debris off him and attempted to stand on his feet, but then collapsed as his equilibrium would not hold him. So he crawled, his clothes tattered, his hands bleeding, and a stream of blood dripped from a wound on his head. He put a hand to his head and his whole hand came back covered in blood. His left eye hurt, but he could still see out of it, but he felt sharp pains above and below his eye, as if glass had carved across those areas from the blast.

Indeed a cannonball had exploded just outside his window. And now he could see smoke and fire encompassing the edges of the opening of the once bay window, giving the appearance of a fiery looking-glass. His ears were still ringing, but he could hear vague shouts from outside - cries of war, people shouting, screaming, and dying.

And then he saw them, like angels coming to rescue him from this hell. But they weren't angels. They didn't have wings, although they were dressed in white. His eyesight was acute and he could see them standing at a reasonable distance next to a roofless automobile through the smoke that now started to cloud his destroyed quarters, and they were smiling. Demonic expressions on their faces, like demons from Hell.

He knew who they were, his memories had shown him, but their names eluded him for the moment, and he would rather die than go back with them!

The door to his quarters burst over, and Ciel stood there after shouldering the door open. He momentarily rubbed his shoulder, as Lukas looked back.

He was saying something, but Lukas's ears were still ringing. However, he did recognize when Ciel waved him over. His expression was that of determination and urgency.

Lukas tried to stand, but then fell over again. Ciel then came over and helped him, perhaps seeing Lukas's injuries, putting one arm around his wrist and bridging Lukas's other arm over Ciel's shoulder. Then he lead Lukas out into the hallway.

Ciel put him down gently and again spoke something that sounded grabbled to Lukas. "I can't hear," he said. "The explosion is causing a ringing in my ears."

Ciel nodded, and then shouted down the hallway, calling for something. As quick as the wind, Sebastian soon came to be in the hallway, like a phantom. Ciel instructed him to do something, and Lukas suddenly found himself being lifting into the butler's arms and carried away. Ciel followed them.

Lukas was taken to Ciel's private quarters on the 2nd floor of the mansion, and sat upon the bed. It appeared the most safest place to be at the moment. Sebastian then took out a small cloth, wet it in a dish on a table next to his master's bed, and placed it softly across Lukas's left eye where the cuts were, and Lukas was instructed to hold it there. The butler then took out a small medical kit and started to wrap gauss cloth around the rest of Lukas's injuries.

Even though the ringing in his ears was still as loud as ever, he asked, "Who is defending the mansion?"

Sebastian and Ciel exchanged a smile. And suddenly, a voice entered Lukas's head that said, "The others."

Lukas looked sharply at the butler, and their eyes gazed into each other's as if looking into the other's soul.

His voice was as clear as day, Lukas thought, even with the ringing in my ears.

Sebastian then smiled, as if he just heard Lukas's thoughts.

Sasha looked through a pair of binoculars at the mansion next to the automobile brought to the battlefield.

Their men were getting slaughtered. Not only by the so-called quick-shot gunslinger maid out front firing with her six-shooters and killing every man she aimed at, but their men were also being gunned down by the rapid shooting by the machine gun from an alcove in the side of the mansion manned by the supposedly inept cook, and also crushed and deterred by the overly strong accident prone gardener launching blocks and rocks from the rooftop, turning men into bloody paste.

"Bardroy, Mey-Rin, and Finny," he said. "The cook, the maid and the gardener…it appears out intelligence was incorrect on this trio."

"Indeed. The Inner Circle provided incomplete information for us on this mission," Samuel said, looking from place to place through his binoculars on the other side of the automobile, surveying their mission's impeding failure to retrieve the boy.

They were at a safe distance from the action, but even at this range, both twins felt a little nervous.

"An unexpected turnabout," Sasha said. "Retreat is an optimal course of action here."

"I agree. Before everyone is wiped out. The better part of valor."

Samuel reached into a box on the back car seat and pulled out a flare gun, pointed it into the sky, then pulled the trigger. A soaring blast of red coursed through the sky. It was the signal to retreat.

Once it was given, their men ceased the attack and immediately turned back, fleeing the seemingly hopeless cause. Even the artery blasts stopped and the cannon's abandoned they had brought with them in three trucks; the trucks were left also.

But it didn't stop the counter-fire from the mansion, and the rapid fire from the machine gun continued to course bullets through the air, gunning down some in cold-blood as the fled. Even the maid continued her onslaught. And so did the gardener.

But when they were out of range, and the counterattack stopped, and the wind carried cheers from the defenders across the back lot.

Their men ran past them, frantic to get away. The twins remained for a moment looking at the mansion and its defenders. Indeed Ciel Phantomhive had a good lot of defenses.

"Servants indeed," Sasha said coarsely.

"Quite," his brother agreed.

With Sasha driving, the twins took course and followed their men. They both knew the Inner Circle will not like this failure. Not at all.

When the fighting was over and the attackers were fleeing - Sebastian watched them run across the back countryside of the mansion with their figurative tails beneath their legs with their superiors in tow driving the white automobile - he could hear the congratulatory cheers of the household servants. And he agreed with their glee. He would have to make a special desert to thank them for going beyond the call of duty service. But along with their said professions, they were hired to protect the mansion and the master, and they had performed this duty with excellence.

Tanaka approached to stand next to him. He too was watching those that fled.

"Those two in the car…" Sebastian said, pointing, "they are whom we think they are?"

Tanaka nodded. "I concur, they are Sasha and Samuel Ironstadt; the two I spoke about in Vincent Phantomhive's mission tale. If they are involved, both Lukas and Ciel are in grave danger."

Sebastian agreed whole-heartedly.

He had left both boys in Ciel's quarters to come out and survey the damage to the back courtyard and grounds, and he sighed at what he saw. "Finny will have a lot of work cut out for him filling these holes and reseeding the grounds," he said. "And just look at all the dead waste." Referring to the bodies left behind. So many wasted souls, he then thought.

"Shall we give them a burial?" Tanaka offered.

"Much like the ancient Greeks, I believe their people should be able to retrieve the bodies, if they want them. Otherwise, we should burn them."

"I say we burn the lot," Ciel said, as he and Lukas exited the mansion's back terrace to stand next to the two butlers. "Dead is dead. A dead soldier is a useless soldier."

Lukas spoke up. "I'm sorry to bring this little war upon the mansion," he said solemnly. "They were after me."

"Heed it no mind," Ciel retorted. "Frankly, this is not an unusual occurrence."

"Indeed, more than once the mansion has come under attack by insidious forces," Sebastian explained.

"Really?"

"I am not well liked in certain circles, especially with those in the underworld that do not heed to the Queen's decree," Ciel said. "I am the Queen's guard dog, the underworld's lord and master, as all Phantomhive's have been. And now, brother, you will share this covenant, in a matter of speaking."

Lukas blinked surprised. "Brother? So you no longer think I am lying to you?"

"Are you?"

"No."

"Then I do not." Ciel smiled. "Sebastian and Tanaka have been kind enough to enlighten me on certain truths. Our parents were deceived, they were told you were dead. We are twins, fraternal twins - brothers by blood but from birth did not look alike. Your face was altered to share mine, but that purpose is still unclear. It is still one more mystery of your sudden appearance we have yet to uncover."

"I believe I can shed light on that, by way of a recent vision or remembrance," Lukas said. "Just before the window to my quarters was blown in, I recalled a memory of great importance. That of my father and his children, those two twins I saw through the fiery hole after the explosive impact of the cannonball." He paused for a moment to fully recall it, closing his eyes. "I was strapped to a table with father looking down at me. I remember my face was bandaged, and they were about to perform surgery on me with a doctor who I can not see through his white garbs…"

Tanaka sighed. "Your real father and mother had the noblest intentions, to help you overcome a hideous disfigurement. We did not know - I and you parents - what would later occur. And I believe a certain man is behind all the kidnappings of the children, and your transformation. His name is Byron Kelvin."

"Who is he?" asked Lukas.

"An aristocrat and a philanthropist, a lair, and a perverted individual," Ciel said with distain. "He attended a social party my parents once had when I was young, I do not recall you were there. That was the first time I met him. He appeared…normal, as far as I can recall. A pudgy, middle-aged man with white hair, hair down the sides of his face, glasses balanced upon bridge of his nose - "

"That's him!" Lukas said. "That is the man who I recalled in my vision. This is father!"

"Unfortunately," Tanaka interrupted, "we believe he died of a shaft infection years ago when he underwent plastic surgery to correct an imperfection, as he called it."

"This information may prove fake," Sebastian said. "A number of children are still going missing. It could be possible he is still alive and kidnapping these children for some nefarious purpose."

"I agree," Ciel said. He looked at Lukas with a serious demeanor. "When we were arguing earlier, you mentioned father. Now that we know who he may be, how long ago do you remember seeing him?"

"It has been some time," Lukas said, his brow folded thinking. "I mostly hung out with the rest of the children. But I do recall that he enjoyed the circus a lot. But I do not remember why he said that."

Ciel shook his head. To him it appeared to be a dead end, Sebastian saw. "This doctor you spoke of," Sebastian said, altering the conversion into a more hopeful branch. "Can you remember anything distinctive amount him?" He turned to the elder butler. "Tanaka, you mentioned something in your story about a doctor, that one of the twins haphazardly spoke about - "

"Who are these 'twins'?" Ciel interjected. "I appear the only one not in the loop about them, other than what I heard from Tanaka's story. But I assume there is more to their story I do not know."

"Their names are Sasha and Samuel Ironstadt," Lukas said. For the next few minutes, he described everything he could recall about them. His memory seemed to have improved dramatically, Sebastian observed. All his information seemed to fit the bill to Tanaka's story. "They are merciless killers. They are evil incarnate. Stay away from them at all costs!"

"Then we must prepare," Ciel said. "No counter offensive is valuable without good intelligence. We must be assured what we are up against. Sasha and Samuel Ironstadt are obviously working for someone. If not Bryon Kelvin, then whom? He must have had a list of associates." Ciel eyed Tanaka. "You knew Bryon Kelvin better than anyone, we will need your help."

Tanaka nodded. "And I know of one other who can help us," he said.

"Good. Ask for his assistance as well."

As Ciel and Tanaka spoke congruently, formulating a list of people who could help them in their plight, Sebastian noticed a certain reservation from young Lukas. His eyes were drawn down to the ground, as if in thought or in melancholy. He could not ascertain his new young master's state of mind after everything he had recently gone through, but he could sense a sadness from the boy.

All his life up until now had been a lie.

He put a hand on the boy's shoulder, which attracted Lukas's attention. The lad looked up at him, and Sebastian produced a smile. "Cheer up, young master. You are finally home."

The others looked at him.

"Yes," Lukas smiled lightly. "But now what?"

"I recommend we alert the alert the media of the young master's homecoming, I'm sure there will be much fanfare," Sebastian expressed.

"Brilliant!" Ciel said. "At first, I didn't want anyone to know he existed because a scandal would tear the Phantomhive name apart, but now that we know the truth, we can use it to our advantage."

"What do you mean 'our advantage'?" Lukas said.

"The homecoming of my long lost brother will be the talk of the town," Ciel said with a certain sinister intent. "The media all across England will snap at the chance to hear the story of Lukas Phantomhive."

"But won't that put me in danger?"

"Precisely," Ciel said.

"You see, young master Lukas," Tanaka spoke up. "Your sudden re-discovery will spark nation-wide news. The son of Vincent Phantomhive returning home, who had been separated from his twin brother for many years, will draw out those who kidnapped you for fear of reprisal."

"So, you'll be setting me up to be target for these people?"

"Of a fashion," Sebastian answered. "If they believe you've regained your memory of certain events, they will attempt anything to silence you."

"I don't like this plan," Lukas said. "And I have not regained all my memories. And some now, I would like to forget."

"It will work," Ciel said confidently. "Sebastian, I order you to protect my brother at all costs!"

Sebastian bowed, "Of course, my lord."

Sebastian turned slightly to smile at Lukas, and for a moment, there was a certain uneasiness in Lukas's eyes the butler sensed. He was entrenched to obey Ciel Phantomhive, only if it didn't endanger his life. The covenant that bound them together were between them, he had no such covenant with Lukas Phantomhive.

But he would obey his master's orders nonetheless. And if he were lucky, he would find the remaining members of the Inner Circle and end this butler farce once and for all. The covenant only held true until everyone who wronged Ciel Phantomhive had been dealt with.

There were six members of the Inner Circle unaccounted for.

To be continued…